Boron nitride/epoxy resin nanocomposites: development, characterization and functionality

Abstract

Polymer matrix composites with embedded ceramic nanoparticles receive not only enhanced scientific but also technological interest, due to their improved thermo-mechanical, electrical, magnetic and other properties. This materials’ category is undoubtedly a promising new class of engineering materials suitable for applications such as stationary power systems, cellular phones, wireless personal digital assistants and hybrid electric vehicles. Ceramic/polymer nanocomposites exhibit multifunctional performance since they are able to combine structural integrity and appropriate thermal response with tunable dielectric behaviour. In this study, boron nitride/epoxy resin nanocomposites were synthesized and their dielectric and mechanical properties were studied via broadband dielectric spectroscopy and dynamic mechanical analysis, respectively. The increase in dielectric permittivity is caused by the augmentation of the macromolecular mobility at low filler content, the higher permittivity values of boron nitride relative to epoxy resin and by the induced electrical heterogeneity in nanocomposites. Storage modulus appears to be filler dependent and decreases with reducing the filler content. The morphological and structural characterization of the nanocomposites was conducted via scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, in order to ensure the successful development of the specimens and the fine dispersion of the nanoparticles.